Printing telegraph system



' B. w. ROTH ET AL 2,490,476

PRINTING TELEGRAPH SYSTEM 3 SheetsSheet l Dec. 6, 1949 Filed June 1s,1946 INVENTQRS Ben W from BY Jaw M Z? Kahlil/la J amy 9L ATTORNEYS jun1a WT I m) Dec. 6, 1949 5, w, ROTH E AL 2,490,476

PRINTING TELEGRAPH SYSTEM Filed June 15, 1946' 5 Sheets-Sheet 2ATTORNEYS D C. s, 1949 B. w. ROTH T AL 2,490,476

PRINTING TELEGRAPH SYSTEM Filed June 15, "1946 s Sheets-Sheet 5 l N V EN T 0 RS Earl W Fail BY 1054 111 21? fiowrlelkl $24 910, #MY'M ATTORNEYPatented Dec. 6, 1949 UNITED STATES.

EATTENT OFFICE PRINTING TELEGRAPH'ISYSTEM' tionof Delaware Application J1111813, 1946, Serial No. 676508 3 Claims.

This invention relates -to a structurally and functionally improvedcontrol apparatus capable of use in numerous different associations butprimarily intended for employment and to be embodied in an automatic*printer'of the types shown, for example, in the prior United Statespatent to Kleinschmidt 1,448,750 of March 20, 1923, Noxon et-al.2',252,232of August 12, 1941, and Rothermel'2,291,759 -of August 4,1942.

As is wellknown, mechanisms such as are disclosed in the prior patentsare controlled by a tape perforated in accordance with predeterminedpermutations of apertures. This tape is fed through a transmitter whichis electrically connected with the control apparatus governing theoperation of the automatic printer. The latter is'therefore operated inaccordance with the arrangements of perforations appearing in the-bodyof-the tape.

In the case of printers-which involve a returnable carriage and alinefeed, the control apparatus has been operated I tocause platen rotationand carriagereturnin response to impulses from the transmitter.originated as'a consequence o'fperforationsin the body of the'tape.

By means ofthe present'invention, it will be unnecessary to perforatethe tape to secure the, results of platen feed and carriage return.Rather, by means of'a functionallyand structurally improved arrangementof the .parts,'these operations will follow automatically-upon a line.

of typing having been completed by the printer;

Further, while a carriage return and platen rotation are occurring; as aresult ofthe functioning of mechanisms constructed in accordance. withthe present teachingathe transmitter will have its operationinterrupted. Therefore, no loss of a unit of indicia will occur.Consequently, the entire area of the tape may be dedicated tosignal-producing perforations such that characters, numerals, andsymbols only will be reproducedby the printer in response to the.signals emanating from the transmitter.

Another object of'the invention is that of providing a control apparatuswhich, .while primarily intended for association withv a printer. neednot necessarily besoemployed. Rather, such apparatus may beadvantageously utilized in numerous other associations.

Anadditional object is that of furnishing. an improved mechanism whichwill befully automaticin operation so that, when onceinstalled itwillfunction with freedom from any manual supervision.

Such impulses have Still. another object is that of furnishing anassembly of parts,:each of which will be relatively .1 rugged .and.simple in construction, these parts being capable of economicalmanufacture. andreadysassemblage,witheach other to furnish a-unitarytandrugged structure operating over long'periods of time with freedomiromall difficulties.

With-these .andother objects in mind, reference is had to the attachedsheets of drawings; illustrating one practical embodiment of the.invention, andin which:

Fig. 1 is a partlyfragmentarymlan view ofua printer showinga portion ofthe improved control mechanism in association therewith;

Fig. Zjis a transverse sectional view takenalong thelines 2-2 and. inthe direction of the arrows. s ndi a d, in Eia, 1;

Fig, 3 is.-a fragmentary front elevational view ofrcertainof the partsas shown in Fig. '1;

.EigAl'A-isa somewhat diagrammatic perspective viewofa rear-portion ofthe printing mechanism; and showing generally-apart ofthe circuit layoutof the control mechanism associated. therewith; and

Fig. 4B. is a continuation of the circuit illustration-as embraced inFig. 4A and which, when taken in conjunction with that former figure,provides-a complete operative circuit.

For the sake of clarity, a somewhat diagrammatic .illustrationhas beenresorted to in these severalfigures. As will-be apparent in an actualcommercial-apparatus, the mechanisms might be redesigned, and,inthe=interest of compactness be arranged in manners difierent from thoseillustrated. Also, With a view to avoiding unnecessary illustration,parts such as permutation bars, drop-in bars, selector bars, and relatedmechanismshave not; been included in the drawings. These will usually beof more or less standard. construction and'operate in a manner as taughtin .the prior art.

.Thua-inthese drawings, the numeral 5 indicatesthe platen of the-machineaudit the frame of .the same. Thelatter rotatably supportsa shaft 1.upon which the platen 5 is slidably mounted. Aptaten carriage Ifiissuitablysupportedby the frame. A. feeding andreturn of this carriage (tothe position shown in'Fig. 1) may'beeffected-by any desired. and more.or less conventional mechanism. For example, a rack bar 8 may be secured.to this carriage .andshifted by the teeth ore. .pinionllwhileaspring-(not shown) m-aylreturnsthe-Pcarriage to its'initial position. Arotationv of the plateno r in other words a line fee -may be assured byturning the shaft I upon which the platen is mounted.

To secure this result, it is again proposed to utilize any desired andconventional mechanism such as has been diagrammatically illustrated inFig. 2. In that view it will be seen that an annular ratchet ID orsegmental member is secured against rotation with respect to the shaftI. The notches or teeth of this member are engaged by a double-endedpawl II. The latter is normally urged in a given direction by means of aspring and is mounted for pivotal movement upon a crank I2. Convenientlysecured to and movable with the crank I2 is an actuating arm I2. This isengageable with a normally open switch I2. Connected to the crank I2 isa control I3. As is apparent, when the control is actuated to shiftcrank I2 in a clockwise direction as viewed in this figure, the pawl IIwill cause an arcuate movement of the member ID. result in the shaft Ibeing partially rotated, carrying with it the platen '5, to secure thedesired results. Also, the actuator I2 will close the switch I2".

As has been previously stated, various detailed showings have beeneliminated from the drawings in that such showings would merely serve toillustrate more or less standard parts and thus render the drawingsunnecessarily redundant. Suffice it to say, however, that an apparatusof this nature customarily includes type bars which strike against a webof paper associated with the platen. These type bars are sequentiallyactuated by drop-in bars, selector bars, permutation bars, etc., etc.,all of which are in turn controlled by the passage of the perforatedtape through the transmitter as afore described. As the type barssequentially operate, the platen shifts axially so that successiveimprints of letters, characters, numerals, etc., may be effected on thepaper associated with the platen. Upon this imprinting being continuedto a point adjacent the rear edge of the paper web further imprinting isinterrupted. Thereupon, the platen should be returned to a position atwhich further imprint of the type bars will occur in zones adjacent thelefthand or forward edge of the web. Simultaneously with this operationor in any event before further imprinting commences, a line spacingshould be resorted to.

In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, these desiredresults of carriage return and line feed are achieved without the use ofcontrol perforations in the tape. The preferred method of accomplishingsuch results has been illustrated. As will be seen especially in Figs. 1and 4A, a bar I4 is movably supported by, for example, bearings in frame6, as shown. This bar normally occupies positions predetermined bydetent notches 20 and 2| which may conveniently be located near one ofits ends. Actuating members I I may be secured to the outer faces of thecarriage I6. These members are engageable with stops I8 and I9 securedto the bar I4 at points substantially coincident with the limits oftravel of the platen carriage. A spring-pressed detent catch I5 maymaintain the bar I4 in any position to which it has been shifted bycooperating with, for example, the notches and 2 I. The relativedisposition of parts has been illustrated generally in Fig. 2.

Thus, it is apparent that when the carriage moves to its extremeleft-hand position the actuator I! will bear against the stop I9 therebyshifting the bar I4 to a position at which the detent This will in turnI5 engages notch 2|. As the parts so move the spring-pressed detent I5will ride out of the notch 29 and project into the notch 2| to thusretain the bar in the position to which it has been moved. As thecarriage moves to its extreme right-hand position, under thecarriage-return action of the spring, or any functionally equivalentmechanism, the actuator I! at the right-hand side of the carriage willengage against the stop I8. Such engagement will cause the bar I4 to beshifted to the right. Again, the parts will be retained in position bymeans of the detent structure and until engagement between the left-handactuator I! and stop I9 is again effected as afore described.

As afore brought out, when the carriage reaches a position at which theimprinting by the type bars is occurring adjacent the limit of therighthand zone of the inscription-receiving surface upon the platen, theactuator I7 will contact the stop I9 to shift the bar I4 in a downwarddirection as viewed in Fig. 1. As illustrated, this may cause the lowerend of the bar (as shown in this figure) to project beyond the mainframe 6 of the machine and engage the movable arm 2| of a switch toclose the latter. However, when detent I5 is not within notch 20, thisswitch will be open.

With respect to the electrical units of the apparatus, it will beobserved, as in Fig. 4A, that three relays 22, 23 and 24 have beenprovided. Relay 22 controls one break contact 25 and two make contacts26 and 21. Relay 23 controls five break contacts 28, 29, 30, 3| and 32and two make contacts 33 and 34. Relay 24 is provided with one breakcontact 35 and one make contact 36. The latter relay is of theslow-release type. Further with reference to th electrical units anddirecting attention especially to Fig. 43, it will be observed that thereference numeral 31 indicates an A. C. motor which may be, for example,of the volt, 60 cycle type. This motor drives a generator 38. A sourceof A. C. current supply is connected to the system by, for example, aplug 39 within the leads of which fuses 40 are interposed. A controlswitch 4| may be provided. The leads from the latter will extend to themotor 31 as well as to the distributor motor 42. Beyond this, the leads43 will extend to the motor 44 of the printer. The directcurrent-supplyin leads 45 and 46 are connected to supply energy asrequired to the code coils 41 of the printer, which coils control theoperation of the permutation bars.

Lead 46 is also connected to what is usually termed the "sixth pulsecoil 48, this circuit being completed through a distributor 49. Thelatter embraces a series of cam-controlled contacts operated by themotor 42. The numeral 50 indicates the distributor contacts whichcontrol the coil 48. A further pair of contacts indicated by the numeral5| are connected to control the tapefeeding magnet of the transmitter.

Under ordinary conditions of operation switches 2| and I2" will be open.With switch 4| closed and leads 40 connected to a suitable source ofpower supply, the apparatus will function in a manner well-known tothose conversant with the art, This is, of course, conceding that theleads 52 as indicated in the left-hand side of Fig. 4A are connected tothe proper conductors extending to a transmitter and that the latter hasassociated with it in proper operative relationship a suitableperforated tape.

Under these circumstances, each revolution of the cam driven by thedistributor motor 42 will result among other functionings in a momentaryios naois he wnta t.:ill ThiSr mje Q-I mft t e;

sixth, pulse? coil. 48,. terminate pr nt ng ume.

ions and. dvance. t eta. iaae lfir nc dentto.

acters may be imprintedupon the sl eet carried bathe p aten Fol w naeere zati 9f h C011. 48. e, d str oro or eaus sa m n ary losin oi e naqtsfiz Th t os a c r u through the magnet of v the transmitterresulting in a tape step. I v forated tape is advanced;v one step to itsnext code, character. Insofar-asthe functioning of a standard apparatusis concerned, it will be observed that the present layoutdiffers fromthe same in that, these contacts. 5. achieve, th aforementioned result.

This cycle of operation involving carriage advance, the feeding-"of thetransmittertape one step, the actuation of imprinting bars, etc., etc.,will continue until the carriage ,lfi has shifted-to a point at which itcarries with it the bari4, thus disengaging latch I5 fromv notch. 20.and thereupon'pemitung it to project into notch 2i Under thesecircumstances, the lower end of bar M as viewed in Fig. 1 will beprojected to a point at which it engages the movable element of switch2! to close the circuit through that element. As will be apparent, inlieu of a pile-up of the character specifically shown, a different formof switch assembly might be employed should this be desired.

When switch 2| closes, relay 22 will be energized. This will result inan opening of the circuit through contact and a closing of the circuitthrough contacts 26 and 21. The opening of the switch or contactindicated at 2-5 will result in a disconnecting of the magnet of thetransmitter from the cam-controlled contacts 5| of the distributorassembly. Therefore, the further feeding of transmitter tape will beinterrupted. The circuit through the contacts or switch 21 which hasbeen established by energization of the relay 22 results in a locking ofthe transmitter magnet in one position. Accordingly, a continuousrotation of the cam in the distributor assembly will not result in aloss of a character during subsequent operation. Such operations resultfrom a closing of the contact or switch 26 which energizes relay 23.

With the energization of the latter relay, contacts or switches 28, 29,30, 3| and 32 are opened. Similarly, contacts or switches 33 and 34 areclosed. The opening of switches 28 to 32 inclusive results in thedisconnecting of all wires 52 leading to the pin-operated contacts ofthe transmitter. The closing of contacts or switch 33 then causes anoperation of the line-feeding mechanism by shifting the control l3. Suchshifting results from the fact that the closing of contact 33 providesthe second of the coils 41 as in Fig. 413 with the necessary pulsethrough the rotating cam of the distributor assembly and the normallyclosed contacts or switch of the relay 24. The line-feed mechanismfunctions as soon as the ensuing sixth pulse is delivered through theoperation of the contacts 5! by the cam of the distributor with theresultant energization of the coil 48.

As aforedescribed with a line feed occurring, I

crank i2 is oscillated to correspondingly move the actuator or extension12'. This results in a. closing of the contact of switch I2". Thiscloses the circuit to relay 24. With the resultant energization of thisrelay, contacts 35 are opened and cono then words the code-per 6; teststtiaraclosed; Whflethe clos n of d.

: fourth fromthe left asviewed in-Fig. 4B. Ac-.

cordingly, this will initiatethe...carriage,,,return; function which iscompleted as-oaresultcoftha subsequent closing ofcontacts. 55] of thedistributor 4.9 with resultant 'energization of v the coil 48..

With thereturn of the carriage to the position: shown. in Fig. 1, bar.will beshifted upwardly. as viewed-inthatfigure. Therefore, switch 2|-will be opened. The. printin operation will not: be resumeduntil thishasoccurred. With sucha opening ofthe switch 21 the cycle is completedand allrelays are again in their normal positions as 'illustrated in thedrawings. Consequently, the transmitter willagain function andimprinting will=occur and" the entire cyclewill be repeatedcontinuously. As will be apparent, the cam-operated contacts of thedistributor are employed to limit the duration of both the second andfourth pulse so that these two signals will not be introduced to thecode coils between two successive sixth pulses. Such an operation wouldcause a letter to be printed instead of resulting in a line feed andcarriage return.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that an apparatus is providedby the present invention, in which no permutation of perforations orother expedient will have to be resorted to in connection with the tapeor its equivalent to assure a line feed or carriage return. Rather,these results occur automatically upon the parts of the apparatusreaching positions such that these functions are required. With theoccurrence of such functions, the transmitter ceases to operate in amanner such that one may be assured no characters represented by codeperforations on the tape will be lost or skipped during the functions ofline feed or carriage return.

Thus among others the several objects of the invention as specificallyaforenoted are achieved. Obviously, numerous changes in construction andrearrangements of the parts might be resorted to without departing fromthe spirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

We claim:

1. A printing mechanism including in combination a shiftable platencarriage, a rotatable platen supported thereon, means for rotating saidplaten with respect to said carriage, said carriage being shiftable in aseries of successive steps to advance in an axial direction, switchmeans operated automatically by the movement of said carriage upon thelatter reaching a predetermined position to cause said platen to berotated, and further switch means automatically operative responsive toplaten rotation for causing a return of said platen in an axialdirection to a predetermined position.

2. An imprinting mechanism including an axially shiftable and rotatableplaten, leads to be connected to a tape receiving and feedingtransmitter and governing the shifting of the platen in one direction, aswitch, means connected to said platen and operating said switch uponthe platen reaching a predetermined limit of shifting, a relay connectedto be operated by said,

7 "switch, a "circuit controlled by said relay and connected to one ofsaid leads to cause a discontinuance of transmitter operation upon saidrelay functioning, a further relay connected to be controlled by saidfirst named relay, means connected to function upon said further relayoperating to cause a rotation of said platen, a second switch arrangedto operate upon said platen rotating, a final relay controlled by saidsecond switch and means controlled by said final relay for causing anaxial shifting of said platen to an initial position.

3. An imprinting mechanism including an axially shiftable and rotatableplaten, leads to be connected to a tape receiving and feedingtransmitter and governing the shifting of the platen in one direction, aswitch, means connected to said platen and operating said switch uponthe platen reaching a predetermined limit of shifting, a relay connectedto be operated by said switch, a circuit controlled by said relay andconnected to one of said leads to cause a discontinuance of transmitteroperation upon said relay functioning, a. further relay connected to becontrolled by said first named relay, means connected to function uponsaid further relay operating to cause a rotation of said platen, asecond switch arranged to operate upon said platen rotating, final relaycontrolled by said second switch, means controlled by said final relayfor causing an axial shifting of said platen to an initial position andfinal means controlled by said latter relay to re-establish acontinuation of operation of said transmitter and reenergization of theleads extending therefrom.

BERT W. ROTH.

JOSEPH R. ROBERTELLA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 554,594 Garber Feb. 11, 18961,855,185 Henderson Apr. 2 6, 1932 1,864,302 Griflith June 21, 1932

